On the 18th of May 2016 , the London community gathered for another inspiring MKS Room. This time we aimed to create meaningful conversations about food waste with the support of :

Martina Randles, Community Marketing Manager at OLIO, a free app that allows consumers, restaurants and supermarkets to share perfectly edible food that is due to be removed from the shelves. Their mission: to unlock the value of food that is wasted in the home and community.For more information: olioex.com

Keiran Whitaker, Founder of Entocycle, an innovative feed company that is developing one of the most advanced, efficient and sustainable systems to feed the world. They produce animal feed the way nature intended. They are utilising the power of Hermetia illucens (Black Soldier Fly) – to ‘up-cycle’ organic waste into a sustainable protein feed alternative for Aquaculture and Livestock. For more information: entocycle.comJames McGowan, Manager of the campaign « Love Food Hate Waste » which targets food-waste prevention and helps address the amount of food that is wasted in people’s homes. The campaign was launched following ground-breaking research, carried out by WRAP, illustrating the scale of the problem and the associated environmental and economic impacts. WRAP (Waste & Resources Action Programme) is a private not for profit company that work with governments, businesses and communities to deliver practical solutions to improve resource efficiency.For more information: lovefoodhatewaste.com and wrap.org.uk

With 1/3 of the food produced never eaten each year, the impacts of food waste are huge on all sides. Not only is it a colossal loss of money for business and households, but its consequences on the environment are disastrous.

According to the UN, if food waste were a country it would be the third global greenhouse gas emitter. And if we consider that 30% of the land is used to produce food that will go to waste, it gives us a good idea of all the resources, in terms of water or biodiversity, we are exploiting unnecessarily.

This situation is particularly alarming when we consider that in 2050, there will be 2 billion more people to feed while there are currently 1 billion people affected by hunger.

Yet, we are currently producing more than enough food to feed the entire planet, but most of this food is being wasted instead of being used to feed people in need. Our food system is in crisis and the current environmental pressure is more than our planet can bear over the long-term.

How can we contribute to reduce food waste and co-create a better future? Listen to the official podcast of our event.